When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? An astronaut, a doctor or maybe a famous athlete? Today one of the most popular responses to that question is influencer – content creators who grow their following on Tik Tok, Instagram and YouTube and monetize that content to make it their full-time job.

In a lot of ways influencing can seem like the dream job - the filters, the followers, the free stuff. But on the internet, rarely is anything as it appears. From hate comments and sneaky contracts to prejudice and discrimination, influencers face a number of hurdles in their chosen careers.

This week we're bringing you two stories from our daily show The Indicator on the promise and perils of the multi-billion dollar influencer industry.

This episode was produced by Corey Bridges and Janet Lee. It was engineered by Robert Rodriguez and Katherine Silva. It was fact-checked by Sierra Juarez and Dylan Sloan. Emily Kinslow was the podcast coordinator for this series. Viet Le is The Indicator's senior producer. Kate Concannon edits the show. Our acting executive producer is Jess Jiang.

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The Department of Defense's proposed budget for 2024 is $842 billion. That is about 3.5% of the U.S.'s GDP. The military buys everything from pens and paper clips to fighter jets and submarines. But the market for military equipment is very different from the commercial market.

On today's episode, we're bringing you two stories from The Indicator's series on defense spending that explore that market. As the U.S. continues to send weapons to Ukraine and Israel, we first look at why defense costs are getting so high. Then, we dive into whether bare-bones manufacturing styles are leaving the U.S. military in a bind.

The original Indicator episodes were produced by Cooper Katz McKim with engineering from Maggie Luthar and James Willetts. It was fact-checked by Sierra Juarez and Angel Carreras. They were edited by Kate Concannon and Paddy Hirsch. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.

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In 2019, Mike Ketchmark got a call. Mike is a lawyer in Kansas City, Missouri, and his friend, Brandon Boulware, another lawyer, was calling about a case he wanted Mike to get involved with. Mike was an unusual choice - he's a personal injury lawyer, and this was going to be an antitrust case.

But Brandon knew Mike was great in front of a jury. And that he'd won huge settlements for his clients in the past.

So the lawyer friend drops by Mike's office, and pitches him the case. Rhonda and Scott Burnett had just sold their home for $250,000, and out of that amount, they had paid $15,000 in commission (plus a small fee), which was split between two real estate agents - even though they had hired only one. And the commission was high - 6%. Mike's friend said the whole thing seemed... suspicious. Maybe even illegal.

Mike agreed to take the case, a case that would soon become bigger than one about just what had happened to the Burnetts. It would become a fight about the way homes are bought and sold in the U.S. and challenge the way real estate agents have done business for more than 100 years.

This episode was hosted by Amanda Aronczyk and Keith Romer. It was produced by Willa Rubin, edited by Keith Romer, engineered by Valentina Rodríguez Sánchez, and fact-checked by Sierra Juarez. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.

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The program is co-led by the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA, the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and Pasadena City College.

The first members of G20 Research Group’s team of experts and analysts have arrived in Brisbane for the G20 summit on November 15–16:  Dr. John Kirton, Co-director, G20 Research Group Julia Kulik, Senior Researcher Caroline Bracht, Senior Researcher Kathryn Kotris, Researcher The rest of the team will arrive in time for the pre-summit conference on […]

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Harold G. Schaevitz Industries announced the release of the ILPS-13Z Series Miniature Linear Variable Inductive Transducer (LVIT) Position Sensor.

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Industry 4.0, or Technology 4.0, signifies the shift towards automation, data exchange, and advanced technologies like AI and IoT in manufacturing and beyond. Its value lies in aligning with organizational goals and strategic plans and enhancing employee efficiency, offering a comprehensive approach to modernizing operations across the board.

How did I end up working with medical devices? Reflecting on my career, it's been diverse. Three years ago, I was working on protein structure in research labs. I never thought I'd be in the world of quality later on!

Advancements in AI and machine learning offer hope to revolutionize industrial automation and tackle modern manufacturing challenges.

Regulatory bodies like the FDA and MHRA are adapting guidelines to accommodate the evolving AI landscape, stressing the importance of innovative compliance approaches alongside traditional software regulations, including audit trails, electronic records, and signatures.

The automotive industry is innovating to produce safer and more efficient vehicles. Quality standards are vital, as small defects can lead to serious safety issues. Digital twins and augmented reality (AR) are transforming quality management. This article explores their impact and associated challenges.

Global challenges and industrial competitiveness are having an impact on the training and continuous education of skilled workers and students.

Renishaw was recognized for committing its expertise to the CNC Machining program, as well as a host of the company's advanced manufacturing equipment.

Today, Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations are a significant sub-industry within manufacturing, valued at $656 billion and projected to exceed $800 billion by 2032. MRO involves maintaining machinery, equipment, and systems in optimal condition through repairs and overhauls to extend their operational life.

Coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) play a crucial role in verifying the dimensions of manufactured parts with precision control. CMM controllers are central to coordinating movements and processing data, driving technological advancements in the metrology industry.

The push for smaller, more complex device components has spiked the need for precise, non-damaging metrology, with 3D X-ray microscopy (XRM) leading the way. This technology offers high-resolution measurements critical for quality control in the electronics and manufacturing industries.

These advancements made our factories smarter by enabling systems to communicate with each other, share live data, and make decisions without human intervention. 

Teledyne Technologies [TDY] on Monday said it has acquired Micropac Industries [MPAD] in a $57.3 million deal that adds electronic components used in space, military, industrial, and medical applications. The […]

The Australian Ministry of Defence on Nov. 4 terminated its procurement activity with Lockheed Martin [LMT] for a single communications satellite in favor of pursuing multiple spacecraft that could provide […]

After nine months in development, the new BPI Industry Professionals website is live.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Hunter Industrial Fans, the industrial division of Hunter Fan Company, has launched a new website designed to enhance the online consumer experience. Hunter’s revamped website includes new features designed to make all product information readily available to both consumers and distributors.  

ESG funds are experiencing a record year, as more investors, such as pensions fund managers, are making it a top priority when deciding where to put their money.

The monthly "Workiz Uplugged" podcast offers insights into how technology, leadership, and innovation are shaping the future of the field-service industry, a press release from Workiz said.

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The Tech Center offers space for cross-team collaborative work and a view of the Arkansas River with downtown Tulsa in the distance.